Ryan Stamrood (Photo Courtesy:dailynews.openwaterswimming.com)South African swimming legend Ryan Stramrood beat the odds to successfully complete a world first attempt to cross the notoriously difficult North Channel located between north-eastern Ireland and south-western Scotland.On 27 July, Stramrood and his five team mates from around the world finished a gruelling 30 hour relay swim from Ireland to Scotland and back again to score a world record achievement this week.The team, made up of swimmers from Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and South Africa, faced horrid weather conditions and the giant Lions Main jellyfish in the icy waters on their extreme, watery trek.

The total distance of the North Channel two-way swim is over 70km, with the team having to swim well above 85km because of powerful currents.Stramrood himself completed about 20km in the 12.5 degrees Celsius temperatures.“Nothing could really prepare me for what this challenge would require mentally and physically. Extreme exhaustion and violent, relentless stings from the jelly fish, made jumping back into the icy water over and over again a fantastically difficult challenge,”he said.